Aletris aurea: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Aletris root is used in herbal medicine to treat stomach problems such as colic, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and upset stomach.
Plant Profile: Aletris aurea
Taxonomy: Aletris aureaNames
Colicroot, Golden Colicroot, Golden Unicorn Root, Star Grass, Yellow Colic Root
Phonetic Spelling:AY-le-triss AW-ree-uh
Genus:Aletris
Species:aurea
Family:Liliaceae
Aletris aurea, commonly known as Golden Colicroot, is a perennial herb native to the lily family. This plant is typically found in the pine savannas, seepage bogs, and pine flatwoods of North Carolina's coastal plains and sandhills, although it is considered rare. Its natural habitat extends from Virginia down to Florida and westward to Texas. Cultivating this plant can be quite challenging, and it is seldom available for purchase; the North Carolina Native Plant Society does not endorse it for home gardens.
Golden Colicroot thrives in full sunlight but can also tolerate some shade. It prefers moist to wet soil conditions and often indicates the presence of swampy or bog-like environments. The plant is notable for its elongated spike adorned with small, bell-shaped flowers that are a striking golden-yellow hue.
Regarding plant health, there are currently no known issues with diseases or insect pests affecting Golden Colicroot.
Tags
#yellow flowers
#native perennial
#NC native
#native wildflower
#food source summer
#food source nectar
#Coastal FACW
#Piedmont Mountains FACW
#butterfly friendly
#pollinators
#audubon
Similar Plants
Aletris aurea Feature Summary
Attributes
Aletris root is used in herbal medicine to treat stomach problems such as colic, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and upset stomach.
Southeastern and south central U.S.A.
AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX , VA
This plant attracts butterflies and other pollinators.
Perennial
Fruit
Flowers
Spike of golden yellow tubular 6 petaled small 1/4 inch flowers bloom from May to July. Flowers are campanulate, more than 2 times or less as long as broad, with erect lobes. The tepals (petals and sepals) are golden yellow in color and have a “mealy” surface.
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Raceme
Spike
Spring
Summer
6 petals/rays
Tubular
Bell
< 1 inch
Leaves
The thin leaves are oval to lance-shaped and 4-8 inches long and a basal rosette forms at the base of the stem. The leaves are veined, but not needle-like or scaly.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Rosulate
Elliptical
Lanceolate
3-6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Deciduous
Erect
High
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Moist
Occasionally Wet
Coastal
Piedmont
6a
6b
7a
8b
8a
9a
9b
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Native Garden
Accent
Wet Soil
Poor Soil
Butterflies
Pollinators
Aletris aurea Image Gallery
Aletris aurea Attributes
Aletris aurea: Country Or Region Of Origin
Southeastern and south central U.S.A.
Aletris aurea: Distribution
AL , AR , FL , GA , LA , MD , MS , NC , OK , SC , TX , VA
Aletris aurea: Wildlife Value
This plant attracts butterflies and other pollinators.
Aletris aurea: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Heat tolerant.
Aletris aurea: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Aletris aurea: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Aletris aurea Fruit
Aletris aurea: Fruit Description
Fruit displays in August.
Aletris aurea: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Aletris aurea: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Aletris aurea Flowers
Aletris aurea: Flower Description
Spike of golden yellow tubular 6 petaled small 1/4 inch flowers bloom from May to July. Flowers are campanulate, more than 2 times or less as long as broad, with erect lobes. The tepals (petals and sepals) are golden yellow in color and have a “mealy” surface.
Aletris aurea: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Orange
Aletris aurea: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Aletris aurea: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Aletris aurea: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Aletris aurea: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Aletris aurea: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Aletris aurea: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Aletris aurea Leaves
Aletris aurea: Leaf Description
The thin leaves are oval to lance-shaped and 4-8 inches long and a basal rosette forms at the base of the stem. The leaves are veined, but not needle-like or scaly.
Aletris aurea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Aletris aurea: Leaf Color
Green
Aletris aurea: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Aletris aurea: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Aletris aurea: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Aletris aurea: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Aletris aurea: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Aletris aurea Whole Plant Traits
Aletris aurea: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Aletris aurea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Aletris aurea: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Aletris aurea: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Aletris aurea Cultural Conditions
Aletris aurea: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Aletris aurea: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Aletris aurea: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Aletris aurea: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Aletris aurea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
6a
6b
7a
8a
8b
9a
9b
Aletris aurea: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Aletris aurea Stem
Aletris aurea: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Aletris aurea Landscape
Aletris aurea: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Aletris aurea: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Aletris aurea: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Aletris aurea: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
